EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Anna Stewart is a passionate leader and public health intervener who bridges over two decades of experience with prominent public health organizations and collaborating with multi-disciplinary leaders using evidence-based approaches to address crucial health crises in our nation. As a first generation American and cancer survivor, Ms. Stewart provides a unique perspective and understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities. She is committed to implementing bold and highly effective public health initiatives, building cross-sector communities of support, directing resources that proportionately address disparate communities, and creating transformational solutions that enrich the public’s knowledge of dire health issues with the goal of saving lives.

Ms. Stewart helped lead the start-up and later development efforts for the nation's largest public health foundation dedicated to tobacco prevention and cessation, the American “Legacy” Foundation (currently the Truth Initiative). Following her tenure at Legacy, Ms. Stewart served as the Senior Director for Development at the Cancer Support Community (CSC) - the largest worldwide provider of free psychosocial and emotional support for cancer patients and their families. 

Over the past five years, Ms. Stewart has devoted her time and expertise to combating the opioid and substance use crisis in the U.S. She spearheaded the formation of a national multi-disciplinary panel of experts, the National Substance Use Disorder Strategic Advisory Panel (NSUDSAP), to Identify and present current evidence-based/informed best practices, first-hand lived/living experience, innovation and critical guidance for the prevention and treatment of and recovery from opioid and other substance use disorders. Ms. Stewart continues to evolve her strategic vision in this area through innovative partnerships and unconventional collaborations that reach and support all essential stakeholders in their efforts to save lives and end the opioid and substance use epidemic.

Ms. Stewart holds an MBA with a focus on business strategy, management and operations from George Washington University, received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing from George Mason University, and completed the McDonough School of Business, Global Social Enterprise Initiative Executive Program at Georgetown University. She lives outside of Washington, DC with her husband and two daughters.

PRESIDENT

George Massengill, BSSW, LADAC, is a seasoned industry professional with over three decades of diverse experience in healthcare, IT, and business financial sectors. He has held pivotal roles ranging from CEO to Clinical Director in renowned companies such as the University of Tennessee, CRC Health/Acadia Health, and Peninsula Health System. Most recently, George served as Senior Vice President at Philips Holdings Inc., where he successfully developed relationships with Fortune 500 clients, executed large-scale contracts, and fostered crucial business relationships. Additionally, he has made a significant impact as a board member and CMO/EVP at JourneyPure, establishing treatment services across the nation.

Throughout his career, George has demonstrated entrepreneurial acumen by starting, buying, and selling several companies. He founded The Wellness Centers, a statewide outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health service, which he sold to Bradford Health in 2003. He then established HealthConnect America, a state-wide and now national company providing in-home mental health, SUD, and case management services, which he sold to Xebec Corp in 2007. George also started Recovery Living Services, offering statewide outpatient and recovery houses, and sold it to CRC/Acadia in 2010. In 2016, he merged Another Chance Recovery and Faith, an inpatient detox and residential facility for men, into The Serenity Center and Network, which he later sold to JourneyPure.

In addition to his healthcare ventures, George founded PMR Inc., a technology firm specializing in developing electronic medical records (EMRs) and smart care-driven communication systems for U.S. healthcare. As CEO, he spearheaded the development of trademarks such as MyHealth Card and My Healthrec, creating networks for case management and payment processing for smart card EMR-driven systems. George's extensive experience and innovative contributions have consistently advanced the fields he has engaged with, underscoring his reputation as a multifaceted leader and visionary in the industry.

SENIOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISOR

Samuel A. MacMaster, Ph.D. is an expert in the behavioral health field with over three decades of experience in the design, delivery, and evaluation of substance use and mental health treatment services.

He has developed programs across the United States, and in several foreign countries, focused on implementing innovative approaches to meeting the needs of underserved populations. He was the Co-founder of a behavioral health company where he served as the Chief Clinical Officer; and has held similar executive level positions in two other large national treatment organizations where he was responsible for developing and driving similar rates of growth and qualityin clinical programming.  He is currently an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Meharry Medical College and was previously a member of the faculty of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Baylor Medical College and the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee.

A pioneer in the area of outcome studies and the identification of barriers to engagement in treatment services, he has conducted numerous federally funded research studies and demonstration projects regarding the efficacy of behavioral health approaches.  He has been a frequent speaker at academic and industry conferences across the globe and has published three books and over 75 peer-reviewed articles focused on behavioral health topics. He holds a PhD in Social Welfare and a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Miami of Ohio.

Prior to entering academia in 1999, Dr. MacMaster worked as a clinician for over a decade in a variety of addiction treatment settings. A person living in long-term recovery, he remains a tireless advocate for recovery for all individuals who struggle with addiction.